Here’s what happened: The E-Team was working on a story on Monday about a parents’ pledge to
boycott standardized testing in protest of the gifted-education changes. Late in the day, a
district spokesman told us that Superintendent Dan Good and the gifted-ed director were talking
things over and that new, important information was coming.

A little before 5 p.m., the spokesman emailed a statement from Good: “The Exceptional Students
Services’ staff reconvened this afternoon to propose a transition model that would allow CCS to
implement components of the anticipated standards, while preserving for a year some of the
parent-valued services that would otherwise be sunset in this new model.”

What does that mean? It means that the gifted changes are being postponed for a year, the
spokesman said. So a story went online, and the story for the newspaper was rewritten.

Less than an hour later, the spokesman said there had been a misunderstanding: The changes were
going forward. A new story saying as much was posted on Dispatch.com, and another rewrite of the
print version was in the works.

Shortly after, another call came in to say that the changes
are being postponed, for real this time. A third story was shipped to Dispatch.com.

Why all the back-and-forth? Parents were happy to hear that the changes weren’t happening so
hastily. They were excited and thanking the district for listening to their concerns. Instead of
fighting that, the district decided to simply smile and say, “You’re welcome.”

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Some Pickerington students got a chance to weigh in on what they want to see in their new
superintendent and pressing issues facing the district.

They didn’t hold back.

Too many students abuse drugs, primarily marijuana, they said. They are troubled by the number
of high-school students graduating early. And they don’t think students deemed “average and below
average academically” are treated with sensitivity.

K-12 Business Consulting, the agency the school board hired to find a successor to retiring
Superintendent Rob Walker, gathered comments from students, parents, staff members and the board to
help the search.

The board wants someone who has had experience as a coach or athletic director. Administrators
want someone who understands the importance of “work-life” balance. Community members and parents
don’t want a retire-rehire leader.

All groups, however, found common ground: They want a superintendent who will live in the
district and stay for years. (Teachers say more than two years; support-staff members want at least
a five-year commitment.)

The board started interviewing candidates this week and hopes to name Walker’s successor next
month.